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Shopping for new chronic illness patients this year? I’ve got you covered! These are tools that make coping with chronic illness easier and more fun. From kitchen tools to TENS machines to books to self-care cases, this post has the best gift ideas for people with chronic illnesses.
2023 Gift Guides | All Gift Guides
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great®!
Kitchen Tools
Cooking can be really difficult, but eating is essential to everyone, especially if you have food sensitivities and have to cook most things from scratch.
Cuisinart Deluxe Can Opener (Chrome) – Using an electric can opener has made my life significantly easier! I’ve put one of these on my own Christmas list.
OXO Upright Sweep Set – Trouble bending down and standing upright again? Get a sweep set!
Kyvol Robot Vacuum Cleaner – Robot vacuum cleaners are so helpful. It’s so nice to have a clean place without putting my body through vacuuming.
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Inadvertent Chronic Illness Tools
These are products that aren’t necessarily for chronic illness patients but are super helpful for us!
Apple Watch Series 8 – I got an Apple Watch this year and I LOVE it!
Personal Microderm Elite Pro – Skip the spa (and exposure to COVID, along with other contagious things) by having high-quality skincare products at home!
FaceSpa Pro Facial Epilator Kit
Beats Solo³ Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones – Distract yourself with good quality headphones!
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds – Dealing with sensory issues? Don’t want to make a big deal about it? Get these!
SmoothStyle Heated Comb Straightener and Smoother – These enable you to do your hair (and feel good about yourself and feel more normal) with fewer products.
Le Volume 2-in-1 Volumizing Brush Dryer
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Chronic Illness-Specific Tools
These are the tools that you’ve GOT to have if you have a chronic illness.
Soluxe Comfort Weighted Heating Pad for Neck and Back
Prospera OTC TENS Electronic Pulse Massager – TENS machines are absolutely incredible tools and if you deal with chronic pain, you should absolutely get one.
Omron Electrotherapy TENS Pain Relief Device
Percussion Massage Gun Deep Tissue – Massage guns are great for muscle pain!
Therabody Theragun Relief – Sand
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Walking Cane for Women and Men, Sleek, Foldable, Collapsible, Lightweight and Sturdy Walking Stick with Comfortable T Handles – Canes are incredible. I love them. These are some great fun ones!
OrthoGlam “Silver Screen” Lightweight Crystal Rhinestone Bedazzled Fashion Cane – God this is a BEAUTIFUL cane. So fun.
Use code KATEM10 for a discount at Mighty Well!
Mighty Well Self Care Case™ – “The Self Care Case™ offers a customizable, lightweight and durable case to secure and transport diabetic care supplies. The Self Care Case™ includes a built-in binder system – and multiple Resealable Storage Bags for diabetic supplies and medications that can be secured inside the binder or removed from the case to take on the go” (x).
Self-Care Essentials Case – “Ready, Set, Take Care: Face the world with the Self Care Essentials Kit. This carry-all kit includes everything you need for essential travel or a much-needed self care vacation” (x).
Brain Fog Fix Planner – “With the Brain Fog Fix (BFF) planner, we hope to alleviate frustration and conserve your precious time and energy. This planner is more than just a reminder system. It includes space to track daily symptoms, hydration, thoughts and moments of gratitude amidst the daily challenges” (x).
Medical Organizer Care Case – “The Medical Organizer Care Kit simplifies life and keeps your wellness routine on track. Gift the tubie or chronic illness warrior in your life (or yourself) the gift of confidence – and the freedom to ditch the IV pole” (x).
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Books
These are books by and about chronic illness patients and disabled people.
Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up (Selma Blair)
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (Edited by Alice Wong)
Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life (Alice Wong)
A Face for Picasso (Ariel Henley)
Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist (Judy Heumann)
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ID-30
I also think that an amazing (and unique!) gift idea is a test from ID30. If this name sounds familiar to you, it’s because I got the opportunity to test them out at the end of last year and shared my feelings in this post.
ID30 is, in my opinion, a revolutionary company for chronic illness patients. According to their website, “tests can identify the right diagnosis, prevent future disease and even reverse existing conditions” (x). You order the test and take it to your local lab. They take your blood and send it in. Two weeks later, you’ll receive an email with your results!
The reason I consider ID30 revolutionary is that these tests put you in control of your health. Yes, you will do best if you bring the results to a functional medicine doctor. But with these tests, if you think you have an autoimmune disease or Leaky Gut or something similar, you can get these tests without convincing a doctor that they should order them.
In my opinion, the one drawback to their tests is the cost, so if you have a discount code and/or get one as a gift for the holidays, that takes that problem off the table! And oh boy do I have those for you.
First, let’s talk about the tests.
The ID30 Autoimmune Antibody Test is a test that checks for most autoimmune diseases. And not just “most” – this test checks for over 30 autoimmune disease markers. These markers account for over 70% of the autoimmune diseases most commonly diagnosed!
Some of these markers check for Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Pernicious Anemia, Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Hashimoto’s, and Ulcerative Colitis. And more!
Ready for a discount? Use the code KATE25 for $25 off!
The ID30-GI Complete Test is a 3-in-1 test: ID30 Comprehensive Autoimmune Antibody Test, 96 Food Sensitivity Panel, and 96 Food Sensitivity Panel.
As you can gather from the name, this test is complete. It checks for 30+ autoimmune antibodies, 90+ potential food sensitivities, and a quantitative test measuring the potential for Leaky Gut Syndrome … in one trip to the phlebotomist and without requiring a doctor’s orders.
If you’re on the fence about getting this test, let me reassure you: this is the test that I got last year, and I was very happy with it. It confirmed my food intolerances, which I had identified by trial and error, and overall, my autoimmune test results were similar to results I’ve had from the same tests but run by my regular doctors.
If you’re shopping for anyone who is dealing with chronic problems, you might want to get this for them. Or buy it for yourself!
Ready for another discount? Use the code KATE50 for $50 off!
Taking this test can help point you in the direction of what to do next in your search for medical answers (and treatment). And you can actually take control of your health with these tests, in a way that is usually reliant on other people ordering tests.
Both of these are available throughout the US, excluding NY, NJ, MD, and MA. Get either of them for yourself or a loved one now.
Like this post? Share it! Then check out:
Do I Have a Chronic Illness? What You Should Know If You’re a New Patient, Tips To Make Independently Living with a Chronic Illness Easier, What Is Considered a Chronic Illness? And Other Chronic Illness Basics, 6 Tips for How To Accept a Chronic Illness
Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.
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